Senior Medical Officer (RPT 0.6 FTE)

Position Information

Posting Number: ROM25-119E Title: Senior Medical Officer (RPT 0.6 FTE) Position Status: Regular Part-time FTE: 0.6 Job Schedule: Days Department: Corporate Leadership Union: Non-union Site: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre Number of Vacancies: 1

About The Royal
As one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health science centres, The Royal has a clear purpose: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. This is at the core of everything we do and it is driven by the passion, focus and dedication of our employees. Every day, the work that we do transforms the lives of people with mental illness through specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research and education.

The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) is a member of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, with a secondary reporting relationship, in an advisory capacity, to the President and CEO.

The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) provides strategic and operational leadership for medical affairs, clinical quality, and patient safety at The Royal Mental Health Centre. Working closely with the Chief of Staff, hospital leadership, and medical staff, the SMO plays a pivotal role in enhancing clinical effectiveness, driving quality improvement initiatives, and fostering physician engagement and wellness.

The SMO ensures the delivery of high-quality patient care while supporting the hospital’s clinical operations. Collaborates with senior management to align medical practices with the hospital’s strategic objectives and mission. This role is instrumental in implementing innovative practices, maintaining high standards of care, and ensuring alignment between medical staff and hospital-wide operational goals.

Duties

• Collaborate with the Chief of Staff to guide professional practice standards and ensure effective communication between medical staff and hospital leadership.
• Provide leadership in medical governance and ensure alignment of clinical practices with the hospital’s strategic goals.
• Design and implement comprehensive programs to support physicians at all stages of their careers, from early and mid-career development to retirement and late-career transitions.
• Foster an inclusive culture that promotes physician engagement, professional development, and overall wellness.
• Support the credentialing and privileging processes, as well as assist in the ongoing performance management of medical staff, ensuring compliance with organizational standards and regulatory requirements.
• Assume the Chief of Staff (CoS) responsibilities in their absence and actively participate in organizational and Board committees as requested by the CoS.
• Work in partnership with the SVP Patient Care Services to ensure that optimal alignment between medical and administrative leadership, including co-Chairing the Clinical Leadership Team.
• Support the planning, allocation, and optimization of resources for medical services and hospital operations such as on-call.
• Assist in budget development and oversee cost-effective delivery of care, balancing patient needs and financial sustainability.
• Serve as a key liaison between medical staff and hospital administration, fostering open communication, resolving conflicts, and ensuring alignment of operational strategies with clinical objectives.
• Lead the strategic implementation of the new Health Information System, engaging physicians to ensure successful adoption and integration and is the physician leader accountable for the ongoing operational efficiency and adoption of the Health Information System.
• Oversee Clinical Quality & Patient Safety, ensuring clinical quality standards and prioritizing patient safety and effective care delivery.
• Design, implement and monitor continuous quality improvement strategies/Initiatives that align with organizational goals and improve patient care outcomes.
• Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Lead efforts in risk management and compliance with all regulatory standards, ensuring the hospital meets all accreditation and legal requirements while mitigating potential risks.
• Collaborate with other senior leaders and interdisciplinary teams to formulate and implement hospital-wide strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing care delivery and improving operational efficiency.
• Provide regular reports on Patient Experience metrics, trends, and key initiatives, ensuring data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions.
• Optimize Patient Outcomes & Hospital Efficiency: Champion initiatives that focus on improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency, working with clinical and non-clinical teams to achieve hospital-wide goals.
• Contribute to the integration of services within the broader health system, exploring opportunities for partnerships and collaborative care models to expand the hospital's reach and services.
• Foster Continuous Learning & Innovation and evidence-based practice, ensuring that the hospital stays at the forefront of mental health care.
• Support residency and undergraduate medical education health programs, continuing medical education (CME), and physician training initiatives to ensure that medical staff are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills in the field of mental health.
• Support and facilitate clinical research initiatives that contribute to the advancement of mental health care and clinical best practices.
• Work in a manner that complies with staff and patient/client safety practices, policies and procedures of The Royal.
• Ensure a work environment that is conducive to the Royal’s Anti-Racism, Harassment, Discrimination-Free Workplace and work safety policies and practices.
• Demonstrate commitment to health equity, values diversity and contributes to an inclusive working environment.

Qualifications

• Master of Health Administration (MHA): Concentrates on healthcare management and policy.
• Master of Public Health (MPH): Emphasizes public health practices and policies.
• Completion of a medical degree - Physician registered.
• Valid Medical License.
• A minimum of 15 years of clinical experience in the mental health field, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role within mental health services, including experience guiding other leaders and overseeing mental health clinical operations.
• In-depth knowledge of modern psychiatric practices, evidence-based therapies, and mental health clinical care standards, including those specific to inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Deep understanding of mental health clinical governance, ensuring that clinical practices are aligned with hospital goals and meet mental health-specific standards and accreditation.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively with medical staff, mental health professionals, hospital leadership, patients/families, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with clinical objectives and operational strategies.
• Strong ability to address conflicts and resolve issues that arise between medical staff and administration, ensuring smooth operations.
• Ability to mentor and support physicians in their professional development, ensuring they stay updated on the latest practices in mental health care.
• Strong commitment to patient-centered & evidence-based care, ensuring that quality improvement initiatives and decisions are always aligned with optimal patient outcomes in a safe and supportive environment.
• Ability to support and lead the adoption of new technologies, such as Health Information Systems, and ensure successful integration into clinical practices.
• Expertise in physician engagement, credentialing, and the management of mental health-specific staff is a must.
• Proven experience in leading mental health quality improvement, patient safety, and risk management initiatives, with a focus on developing and monitoring Quality Assurance programs to ensure high standards of care.
• Thorough understanding of regulatory and accreditation requirements for mental health services, including compliance with provincial and federal laws, ethical guidelines, and mental health safety standards.
• Knowledge of the integration of mental health services within broader healthcare systems, including partnerships with community organizations, outpatient programs, and interdisciplinary care models.
• English level A- is mandatory in oral expression, oral comprehension, reading comprehension, and written expression. Bilingual (French/English) is considered an asset.

Salary Under Review
All applicants must provide a recent CV and letter of interest. Please apply directly to this posting to the Chief of Staff, Dr. Sandra Northcott at Sandra.northcott@theroyal.ca on or before April 7, 2025.
Additional Information

• All applicants must provide a recent resume that clearly indicates that they meet the required qualifications.
• Please apply by clicking on the Apply button below.
• The Royal sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in a career with us; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
• All new hires will be required to obtain a clear and valid Criminal Record or Vulnerable Sector Records Check as a pre-condition of employment.
• The Royal is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, accommodations due to a disability are available throughout the recruitment process.